James Garner advocates for lupus institute

LOS ANGELES, April 7 (UPI) -- The Lupus Research Institute has launched a public service campaign featuring James Garner, the institute said Thursday.

The "Get into the Loop" campaign is designed to alert women to the risks and dangers of lupus -- a chronic autoimmune disease that typically affects women between the ages of 15 and 44. The National Kidney Foundation and WomenHeart: the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease are joining with the LRI National Coalition of state and local patient organizations to promote the campaign.

Garner, the Emmy-winning star of "The Rockford Files" and "Maverick," has personal experience with lupus.

"Lupus has scarred my youngest daughter's life," he says in the public service announcement. "Protect yourself. Get the facts. Get into the loop."

The 30-second spot was created pro bono by New York ad agency Saatchi & Saatchi.

The LRI said lupus -- the common name for the disorder known as systemic lupus erythematosus -- affects an estimated 1.5 million Americans, 90 percent of them women.